HBO’s “The White Lotus” Season 2 Lacks The Bite Of The First, But It’s Still Worth The Trip [Review]

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE YET TO SEE THE WHITE LOTUS SEASON 2, THIS IS A NON-SPOILER REVIEW.

The first season of HBO and Mike White’s The White Lotus, was my favorite television show, new or returning, from last year.  It was the most bizarre, uncomfortable and compelling piece of entertainment I saw in 2021… and it became something that I just could not stop thinking about.  While I originally thought that audiences would be too turned off by its unlikable characters and cringe-inducing moments of awkwardness, it became a surprise hit.  Thus here we are, just a little over a year later with a new season, new unsavory characters and a new romantic destination, in Italy. 

So, how does it compare with the first?  Was it able to live up to my lofty expectations?  Unfortunately, I found myself extremely disappointed in the first three episodes… and then, luckily, it does begin to pick up exponentially, in its fourth episode.  Though I can’t help, but feel like White should have taken more time to cultivate this new installment.

HOW ARE THE NEW CHARACTERS?

HBO provided the first five episodes of the season for early review, so there are two remaining installments that I haven’t yet seen… but, I am so grateful that they didn’t just give us the first three, because I would have said this was a complete sophomore slump, if they hadn’t.  Whereas in the first season, creator Mike White sets up his large ensemble of characters so effortlessly and quickly… this new season takes way too much time in doing so, and feels like it is going nowhere because of it.  

Not to say that these characters aren’t interesting, but I just never knew why I should even care about them in the first place.  White was able to pull off the seemingly impossible with the first season, and take these extremely flawed, unsympathetic people and make us feel for them (whether that was hate or love), by putting the audience in their shoes.  Though their bad behavior was unquestionable, he made us take a hard look at ourselves, through the actions of these characters.  With Season 2’s cast, I never felt (and still don’t by episode 5), as if I have connected to any of them, on any kind of emotional level. 

HOW IS TANYA MCQUOID THIS TIME AROUND?

That is, besides Jennifer Coolidge’s returning Tanya McQuoid, of course… but, even she feels like more of an afterthought, this time around.  It’s not until she meets a group of gay men on the island, led by expat Quentin played by the phenomenal Tom Hollander, that we see Coolidge start to come alive.  

HOW IS THE ENSEMBLE CAST?

When the casting came out and I saw that Aubrey Plaza was going to be in this, I immediately thought that it was a match made in heaven.  The actress, known for her deadpan sensibilities, was the perfect choice to plunge into this painfully awkward material.  And I think she is one of the best parts of this season, though I can’t help but feel as if Mike White is holding her back in some way. And that goes for pretty much the entire cast, wherein I don’t feel like there are any real stand-outs. The writer/director let his ensemble run wild and let out their primal, animalistic instincts in the first season…yet, every character here comes off a little too restrained and distant, for my liking.

One of the main themes of The White Lotus was taking its characters and referencing the peeling of an onion.  White slowly peeled back the layers of each of his characters to reveal deeper insight into who they were, until we reached their core, which could also be considered their id.  And that is what made the show such fascinating and absorbing entertainment.  But, as of right now, all of these characters still feel pretty surface-level.  And while White has finally begun his excavation of these characters in episodes four and five… I’m not sure if it’s a case of, too little too late.

IS THE STORYTELLING AS STRONG?

There is also a lackadaisical and almost random approach to the storytelling here, where everything felt more purposeful in the first go-around.  In the first three episodes, foundations of the storyline are built… and then White seems to trail off in a different direction.  Almost as if he is so intoxicated by the locale, that he gets lost in it, rather than taking advantage of it. 

WHAT ARE THE STORYLINES WE FOLLOW?

 Five different storylines are all going on at once, that of course, begin to interconnect… there’s Tanya and her new husband (played by John Greis, reprising his role from the first season) who are constantly bickering, and McQuoid’s assistant who she forces to hide in her room.  Next, we have, three generations of men from a single family that are trying to reconcile with the father’s infidelity, and then a group of four going on a couple’s trip where one of them has run into a newly-found fortune.  There are two local escorts who find themselves caught up in everybody’s messes (and might be the cause of them) and finally, the frigid manager of this White Lotus and her staff, who all despise her, besides one.

WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T?

I think the most brilliant part of the plotting is taking these two local escorts and embroiling them in all of the tourist’s problems.  To me, this is what is keeping the narrative cohesive and afloat.  The storyline that is working the least, is the one following the resort staff of The White Lotus… whereas that was one of the highlights of the first season, with the incredible Murray Bartlett, at the forefront.  Getting to see the service industry perspective, with the staff having to deal with all of these vain and needy tourists… was one of the main comedic catalysts of the show.  And one of the things that made it so special.  But, here the manager and her staff are more of a bothersome diversion, than anything else. 

IS THE MURDER MYSTERY COMPELLING?

My biggest complaint though is that the murder at the center of it all seems so inconsequential.  Though the show starts off just like in the first, with the foreshadowing of the discovery of a dead body (and this time, the possibility of more), I haven’t really thought about who the victims might be at all.  And I think that this has to do with the fact that I care for the characters a lot less this time around.  And that this plot device feels more like an obligation than an integral part of the overall narrative.

DO WE GET MORE ANXIETY-RIDDEN SIT-DOWN DINNERS THIS SEASON?

Lastly, one of the best parts of Season One was the anxiety-ridden tableside dinners that happened in every episode.  During every meal, some insane confrontation or excruciating conversation would occur… and it made the series unbearably tense.  To top it all off, it was all elevated by the unforgettable tribal score that remains lingering in the mind.  And while there are many tableside meals in this season, the skin-crawling thrills that came from them are noticeably absent here.  Yes, some of them are uncomfortable to watch… but, I was never on the edge-of-my-seat, hanging on every person’s word, this time around.  And I’m not going to lie, I was really looking forward to that happening again and was really let down that it didn’t. 

WHAT IS THERE TO LOVE ABOUT THIS SEASON?

Although Mike White did say that this season would be a lot different, it’s hard to not compare the two.  The first so powerfully and boldly explored ugly, brutal truths about human nature… yet, I feel like this season is struggling to say anything at all.  So, while I do think this is a pretty big step down, I also think that there is still a lot to love here.  The dialogue is as sharp as ever, the situational comedy is gold, the performances are outstanding (although the characters less so), the score is fresh and unique, and the on-location shooting is mesmerizing. 

IS IT WORTH WATCHING?

I also cannot express enough just how much this season improves in its fourth and fifth episodes, which are finally able to define a clear direction… which makes me think that White is going to finish it off strong.  And because of this, I would still recommend checking out this season… though I’d suggest you temper your expectations, especially if you were, like me, a huge fan of the first.  

The White Lotus Season 2 Premieres on HBO on October 30th, 2022.

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